What we do

1

Who we are

East Lothian Play Association (ELPA) is a group of interested community members and play practitioners who also benefit from good relationships with community development workers, East Lothian Council Early Learning and Childcare Team and Support from the Start. Everyone with an interest in children’s play can be part of ELPA whether that interest is family, professional or academic. We believe that all children, regardless of ability or background, have the right to play.

2

Why we are here

ELPA exists to ELPA exists to
• Promote children’s right to play (article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child)
• Share the benefits and value of play for all children and young people living in our community
• Support those working with children

3

How we do this

Organising training and development activities
• Promoting and delivering Loose Parts Play
• Supporting play events such as National Play Day
• Lending play resources
• Acting as a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas
• Contributing to strategic and policy developments impacting on play

4

Our achievements

• Established a committed core group to manage the development of ELPA
• A very popular programme of spring and autumn free training for practitioners
• Supported the development of the East Lothian Play Policy and launch as core members of the working groups
• Supported children and young people’s engagement in development of the Play Policy
• Produced Choose Play East Lothian film and postcards to promote the Play Policy
• Managing the Loose Parts Play Project in Haddington and Lammermuir which includes a Loose Parts Play Development Officer
• Developed the Pac-a-Map resource through National Play Strategy Implementation Fund
• Supporting pop up play, Mud Day and National Play Day
• Established a website and Facebook/twitter presence
• Interacted with national organisations for play and gained their support/funding for initiatives which are now used as exemplars of good practice nationally